Bowling ball and pin separating mechanism



Sept. 10, 1963 R. L. HOLLOWAY BOWLING BALL. AND PIN SEPARATING MECHANISMINVENTOR ROBERT L HOLLOWAY BY M Original Filed July 10, 1958 ATTORNEYUnited States Patent 3,103,358 BOWLING BALL AND PIN SEPARATING MECHANISMRobert L. Holloway, Snyder, N.Y., assignor to American Machine dzFoundry Company, a corporation of New ersey Original application July10, 1958, Ser. No. 747,654, now Patent No. 3,068,006, dated Dec. 11,1%2. Divided and this application June 24, 1960, Ser. No. 38,473

7 Claims. (Cl. 27343) The present invention relates to bowling ballhandling apparatus and. more particularly to apparatus for removing abowling ball from the pit of a bowling alley to a ball return device.

In the game of bowling and especially in bowling alleys served bybowling pin spotting machines, the problem exists in expediting theremoval of bowling balls form the alley pit in order that balls may bereturned to the bowlers in a minimum of time, and play speeded upthereby.

The present invention is characterized by the provision in the pit ofimproved means operative to urge a ball deposited into the pit toward anopening in the kick-back of the alley and to a ball return device.Mechanism embodying the invention preferably comprises a transversespiral roller and a bounce board or platform spaced longitudinallytherefrom. These members are located in the pit preferably beneath atravelling surface in the pit, forming a guide trough for the ball whichis impelled by the spiral roller laterally of the pit to a ball exit inone of the kick-backs of the associated alley.

This application constitutes a division of my copending application SN.747,654 filed July 1958, and now Patent No. 3,068,006, for bowling ballreturn mechanism.

It is therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a noveldevice for removing a ball from the pit of a bowling alley. I

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel pit conveyorembodying a spiral roller to remove a bowling ball from the pit of abowling alley.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel ball handlingmechanism for removing a ball from the pit of a bowling alley to a ballreturn device.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear as thedescription of the particular physical embodiment selected to illustratethe invention progresses. In the accompanying drawings, which form apart of this specification, like characters of reference have beenapplied to corresponding parts throughout the several views which makeup the drawings.

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the pit end of a conventional bowling alley.

FIGURE 2 is a view, partly in section taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 of FIG- URE 1.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the bowling ball return mechanism chosen toillustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown mounted inthe pit P of a conventional bowling alley A. Bowling balls 10 and pins(not shown) removed into pit P from thepl-aying surface of alley A aredeposited onto the upper lap of a flexible, endless belt constituting aconveyor or travelling apron 12 which in the embodiment illustrated ispit wide. Conveyor 12, which preferably is continuously in motion in thedirection of arrow B, FIGURE 2, in pit P, describes an inclined path oftravel around rollers 14 and 16 mounted on transverse shaft 18 and 20,suitably supported in plates 22 and 24 at the front and rear of pit P.Shafts 18 and 20 and rollers 14 and 16 mounted thereon are driven in anysecured to suitable framework (not shown).

convenient manner in the direction of the arrows shown in FIGURE 2 todeliver balls 10 andpins (not shown) to the rear of pit P. Plates 22 and24 are, in turn, secured to the conventional kick-backs K of alley A, asshown in FIGURE 1. V Pins (not shown) on conveyor '12 are deliveredthereby to chute 21 at the rear of pit P and into a suitable elevatingmechanism M mounted between plates 22-and 24 at the rear of pit Padjacent rear cross-member 26. Plows 28 and 30 located at opposite sidesof conveyor 12 and suitably secured to the inner faces of plates 22 and24 respectively operate to direct pins on conveyor 12 over chute 21 andinto elevating mechanism M.

Conveyor 12, chute 21 and pin elevating mechanism M and plows 28 and 30may be similar in construction and operation to those shown in Hollowayet a1. Patent 2,767,983 for Bowling Pin Elevating Mechanism. Only somuch of a disclosure thereof as is necessary for a completeunderstanding of the present invention is ineluded herein in theinterests of brevity.

Platform 32 is mounted beneath the upper lap of conveyor 12 as shown inFIGURES 1 and 2 on sets of brackets 31 and 36 secured to plates 22 and24 respectively. Platform or bounce board 32 thus prevents the upper lapof conveyor 12 from sagging under the weight or impact of bowling balls10' or pins deposit-ed thereon. In addition platform 32 is provided witha diagonal beveled edge 33. for reasons more fully set forthhereinbelow.

Mounted beneath and adjacent the upper lap of conveyor 12 is a thirdroller 34 having a spiral configuration by virtue of being provided witha circumferential spiral grooving 35. Roller 34 is secured to shaft 37supported in plates 22 and 24 generally parallel to but spaced from thebeveled edge 33 of platform 32 less than the diameter of bowling ball10. Shaft 37 is driven preferably constantly in any convenient manner torotate spiral roller 34 in the direction of the arrow illustrated inFIGURE 2.

In operation, a ball 10 deposited on conveyor 12;gravitates or iscarried thereon rearwardly toward elevating mechanism M until it engagesbackstop member 38 supported transversely above conveyor 12 on brackets39 Backstop 38 is spaced from the upper lap of conveyor 12 a distanceless than the maximum diameter of a bowling ball but greater than themaximum diameter of a bowling pin. Thus backstop 38 permits free passagetherebeneath of pins on conveyor 12 but intercepts all balls carriedthereon. Backstop 38 is positioned to engage a ball '10 on conveyor 12adjacent spiral roller 34 and is mounted in a generally parallelrelationship thereto as shown best in FIGURE 1.

Ball '10 engaged by backstop 38 will be deposited thereby in the grooveor trough 40 formed by spiral roller 34 and the beveled edge 33 ofplatform 32. It will be understood that if ball 10 is movingsufiicien-tly slowly on conveyor 12, it will enter trough 40 withoutfirst being engaged by backstop 38. In normal operation, however, ball10 possesses an excess of forward momentum which is first dissipated byengaging backstop 38 before it is deposited thereby into trough '40. I v

Ball '10 in trough 40 is positively urged by'the spiral .groovings 35 ofrotating roller 34 in the directions of arrow D, FIGURE 1, and throughan opening '42 provided therefor in plate 22. Ball 10, thus moved byroller 34 through opening 42, emerges into the space S, preferablybetween two side-by-side or adjacent bowling alleys.

Ball 10, entering into space S, is deposited onto the upper lap of asecond travelling conveyor 44. Conveyor 44 which preferably iscontinuously 'in motion in the direction of arrow C, FIGURE3, in spaceS, describes an inclined path of travel around rollers 46 and 48 mountedon transverse shafts 50 and 52 suitably supported at one side in plates22 and at the other, in plate 54 of the adjacent alley. Plate 54- issecured to the associated kickback K of the adjacent alley and providedwith an opening 55 corresponding to opening 42 to permit the release ofballs from its. associated pit to a suitable common ball return deviceserving 'both alleys. Shafts 5d and 52k and rollers 46 and 48 mountedthereon are driven in any convenient manner in the direction of thearrows shown in FIGURE 3.

Any pins which gravitate or are inadvertently urged by ball, throughopenings 42 and 55 and onto conveyor 44". are engaged thereby andcarried thereon in the direction of arrow E.. Pins, thus carried onconveyor 44, engage diverter member 56 and are cammed by either of theinclined faces 57" thereof back through either respective openings 55'or 42for delivery to the associated mechanisms M.

Ball 10; however, because of its weight and spherical shape willgravitate "on conveyor 44, opposite to its direction of travel, towardand onto rails R of a suitable ball return runway for rapid return by aball return device (not shown) to the head end of alley A.

What I claim is:

1. Bowling ball handling apparatus for use with a bowling alley having apit at one end, comprising a travelling. conveyor, means supporting saidconveyor in said pit, means for travelling said conveyor to move ballsand pins thereon from the playing surface of said alley rearwardly ofsaid pit, means for separating balls from pins onisaid conveyor, 21support plate positioned beneath the upper surface of said conveyor, aroller mounted in the path of travel of balls towards said separatingmeans and beneath the upper surface of said conveyor and spaced fromsaidplate" to form a ball path across said pit, spiral groovings on theouter surface of said roller operative to, urge a ball in said ball pathtransversely of said pit, meansfor rotating said roller, a dischargestation at one side of said pit adjacent said ball path through whichballs are urged by said roller to a ball return device and means at:said discharge station to return pins removed there-through back ontosaid' conveyor in saidpit;

2..Ilhe invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said means forseparating balls from pins includes a stop member andmeans supportingsaid stop member transversely of said pit and spaced above said conveyorless than the maximum diameter of a bowling ball but, greater thanthemaximum diameter of a bowling pin whereby pins on;said conveyor passfreely beneath said stop memher while balls onsaid conveyor are engagedby said stop member. and delivered between said first and secondsupports.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said last-named meansincludes a second travelling conveyor, means inclinedly supporting. saidconveyor between said discharge stationand said. ball return device, adiverting member adjacent said second conveyor at said dischargestation, and meansfor travelling. said conveyor to move pin-s removedfrom said pit at said discharge station against said diverting memberwhereby said pins are urged back. into. said pit through said dischargestation, the inclination. of said". second conveyor being operative todeliver. 'ballsonly to said: ball return device.

4. In a bowling alleywhaving a pit at one end, ball and pin handlingmechanism comprising a travelling ball and pin; engaging surface" insaid pit, means for driving said surface toconduct balls and pinsthereon toward the rear of saidpit, means in said pit for separatingballs from pins, a support located. beneath. said surface, a guideelement, said surface, support and guide element coacting to urge aball, insaid pit laterally thereacross, a ball exit atone sideof said.pit for effecting the passage of balls from said pit, a secondtravelling member, means supporting said member adjacent said ball exitfor receiving halls passing therethrough and conducting them to a ballreturn'device, a diverting member positioned in closely spaced relationabove said second travelling member at a point remote from said ballreturn device, and means for travelling said member to move pinsinadvertently removed from said pit in adirection opposite to themovement of balls toward said ball return device whereby pins on saidsecond travelling member are moved against said diverting member andurged back into said pit.

5. A pair of side-iby-side bowling alleys, each of said alleys having apit at one end and conventional kickbacks at the sides of said pit, saidalleys mounted with adjacent kickbacks thereof spaced at distance apartgreater than the maximum diameter of a bowling ball, pin and ballhandling mechanism comprising an endless travelling member in each ofsaid pits, means for driving said members to conduct balls and pinsreceived thereon from the playing surface of its associated alleyrearwardly of its associated pit, means in each of said pits forseparating balls from pins, a support in each of said pits locatedbeneath each of said travelling members, a guide element positioned oneach. of said supports, said surface, support, and a guide elment ineach of said pits coacting to urge a ball therein llaterallythereacross, said balls being urged in each of said pits toward saidadjacent kickbacks, an opening in each of said adjacent kickbacksthrough which bowling balls exit from said pits, an endless travellingsurface located in said space between said adjacent kickbacks, meansmounting said surface adjacent said ball exits for receiving ballspassing through said exits and conducting them to a common ball returndevice, a diverting member positioned in closely spaced relation abovesaid travelling surface at a point remote from said ball return device,said diverting member being provided with two opposed deflecting faces,and means for driving said travelling surface to move pins inadvertentlyremoved from said pits into operative relationship with said deflectingfaces of said diverting member whereby said pins are urged thereby backinto their respective pits for delivery therefrom.

6. In a bowling pin spotting machine for use with a bowling alley havinga pit at one end, apparatus for handling bowling balls in said pitcomprising an endless traveling apron in said pit, means supporting saidapron for movement over substantially the entire width of said pit,means for traveling said apron to move balls and pins thereon from theplaying surface of said alley rearwardly of said pit, means in said pitfor separating saidballs from said pins on said apron, a first supportlocated beneath the upper surface of said apron, a second supportbeneath the upper surface of said apron and spaced from saidfirstsupport'to define a generally transversely extending path of travel, adischarge station at the side of said pit adjacent said path of travelof balls operative to deliver balls from said pit to a ball returndevice, said second support including positively actuated means locatedin said path" of travel for moving balls along said path of travel tosaid device, a second traveling member, means supporting said memberadjacent said discharge station, a. diverting member adjacent saidmember at said discharge station and means for traveling said member tomove pins inadvertently removed from said pit against said divertingmember whereby said pins are carried back into said pit.

7. In a bowling alley having a'pit at one end, mechanism for handlingbowling balls in said pit comprising an endless belt conveyor, the beltof said conveyor comprising material having substantial flexibility anda width substantially coextensive with the width of said pit, meansdriving said conveyor in adirection to conduct pins and balls rearwardlyin the pit, means in the pit for separating said balls from said pins onthe upper lap of the conveyor, and means supporting said upper lap at alocation forwardly of said separating means and forming a path of travelfor balls transversely across the pit toward a mile discharge station atthe side thereof, said supporting means including an elongate rollerextending transversely beneat-h said upper lap and having a spiralexternal configuration in engagement with the undesrurfiace thereof,whereby said flexible material of the belt tends to confoltn to saidspiral configuration due to the weight of a ball supported thereon, andmeans rotating said roller to conduct halls supported thereabove on theupper lap of the belt in a direction toward said discharge station.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSRundell et a1. May 10, 1949 Simpson Nov. 21, 1950 Montooth et al Oct.28-, 1952 Zuercher et a1 Oct. 2, 1956 Holloway et a1. Oct. 23, 1956Zuercher Mar. 19, 1957 Came et a1. Aug. 2, 196 0

7. IN A BOWLING ALLEY HAVING A PIT AT ONE END, MECHANISM FOR HANDLINGBOWLING BALLS IN SAID PIT COMPRISING AN ENDLESS BELT CONVEYOR, THE BELTOF SAID CONVEYOR COMPRISING MATERIAL HAVING SUBSTANTIAL FLEXIBILITY ANDA WIDTH SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE WITH THE WIDTH OF SAID PIT, MEANSDRIVING SAID CONVEYOR IN A DIRECTION TO CONDUCT PINS AND BALLSREARWARDLY IN THE PIT, MEANS IN THE PIT FOR SEPARATING SAID BALLS FROMSAID PINS ON THE UPPER LAP OF THE CONVEYOR, AND MEANS SUPPORTING SAIDUPPER LAP AT A LOCATION FORWARDLY OF SAID SEPARATING MEANS AND FORMING APATH OF TRAVEL FOR BALLS TRANSVERSELY ACROSS THE PIT TOWARD A DISCHARGESTATION AT THE SIDE THEREOF, SAID SUPPORTING MEANS